The latest official data revealing a decline in forest fire incidents across Kashmir in 2025 offers a momentary sigh of relief, yet it disguises a persistent ecological wound that continues to fester. While the recorded 310 incidents mark a statistical drop compared to the previous year, the destruction of over 880 hectares of forest land […]
Editorial
A Healthy Change
The positive story coming out of Jammu & Kashmir that deserves everyone’s attention towards the betterment of healthcare. While we often hear about infrastructure or politics, a quiet revolution is happening in the hospitals and clinics of the Union Territory. Recent data shows that J&K has become one of the safest places in India for […]
The Cold Season’s Silent Emergency
Kashmir’s harsh winter is more than a seasonal inconvenience; it is a serious public health challenge that quietly but steadily claims lives each year. As temperatures plunge and daily routines slow down, another invisible crisis intensifies inside hospital emergency rooms: a sharp rise in cardiac emergencies. The recent winter heart health advisory issued by doctors […]
The Longest Chill
In the heart of the Himalayas, the arrival of Chillai Kalan on December 21 marks more than just a date on the calendar; it signals the commencement of a forty-day trial of spirit and survival that defines the Kashmiri identity. This period of “Major Cold,” stretching until the end of January, is characterized by a […]
Healing Old Wounds
For decades, the silence in Kashmir was often loudest in the homes of terror victims. These were families who, after losing loved ones to the brutality of terrorism, were forced into a shadow existence—marginalized by a system that seemed paralyzed by fear or, worse, indifference. However, the recent ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, where […]
Kashmir’s Winter Smog
As winter deepens across Kashmir, a silent but potent threat is tightening its grip on the Valley: worsening air pollution. What was once considered a seasonal inconvenience has now emerged as a full-blown public health crisis, driven by a dangerous cocktail of prolonged dry weather, traffic congestion, biomass burning, and unchecked construction dust. Across urban […]
Weaving Legacy
By Ajaz Rashid Kashmir’s rich handicraft heritage has once again claimed the national spotlight, reaffirming the Valley’s stature as a crucible of artistic excellence. The recent National Awards announced by the Union Ministry of Textiles celebrate two master craftsmen whose patience, skill, and creative devotion embody the very essence of Kashmir’s living cultural legacy. Their […]
Lifestyle Shift Fuels Rising Diabetes in J&K
By Ajaz Rashid The rising tide of non-communicable diseases in Jammu and Kashmir is no longer a distant warning—it is an unfolding crisis. Fresh assessments by health experts reveal that roughly one in ten residents is already living with diabetes, while nearly 15 percent hover in the pre-diabetic zone. These numbers, growing with alarming consistency, […]
A Blow to Terror
By Ajaz Rashid The latest crackdown on a transnational terror module linked with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) is more than just another successful police operation. It is a resounding affirmation that the Indian state is neither asleep nor intimidated. With eight arrests including three doctors who shockingly betrayed their professional oath, the operation […]
Solar Revolution Brightens J&K
The promise of clean, reliable, and affordable energy is no longer a distant dream for Jammu and Kashmir as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a flagship rooftop solar initiative, is gradually transforming rooftops into power hubs and households into self-sufficient energy producers. With thousands of consumers already receiving zero electricity bills, the scheme […]